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Archaea

There are three main types of archaea: the crenarchaeota (kren-are-key-oh-ta), which are characterized by their ability to tolerate extremes in temperature and acidity. The euryarchaeota (you-ree-are-key-oh-ta), which include methane-producers and salt-lovers; and the korarchaeota (core-are-key-oh-ta), a catch-all group for archaeans about which very little is known. Among these three main types of archaea are some subtypes, which include:

Methanogens (meth-an-oh-jins) — archaeans that produce methane gas as a waste product of their "digestion," or process of making energy.

Halophiles (hal-oh-files) — those archaeans that live in salty environments.

Thermophiles (ther-mo-files) — the archaeans that live at extremely hot temperatures.

Psychrophiles (sigh-crow-files) — those that live at unusually cold temperatures.

Archaea look and act a lot like bacteria. So much so that until the late 1970s, scientists assumed they were a kind of “weird” bacteria.

Then microbiologist Carl Woese devised an ingenious method of comparing genetic information showing that they could not rightly be called bacteria at all. Their genetic recipe is too different.

So different Woese decided they deserved their own special branch on the great family tree of life, a branch he dubbed the Archaea.

Comments (1)

It would be interesting to know their task in life, their life span, reproduction methods and latest research - I must introduce myself-my name is. Derek-I have just purchased my first microscope and was amazed at the detail of a shaving of pine wood- I live in the uk and for 77 years have always had an enquiring mind-the microscope has set it alight !
Nice to be aboard-respectfully powerfulheart(derek)